A very popular eatery, especially for its buffet lunch, Lemongrass offers healthy Thai and Indian dishes, so you can try green curry with roti, or chicken korma and tom yum shrimp. Reasonably priced and not over-spicy.

Creative Indian dishes are served up in this comfortable, centrally located restaurant. Not so spicy but reasonably priced favorites include mango yoghurt, fried Indian beancurd with spinach curry, chicken jalpharezi and lamb passanda. Very good value for money and very friendly service.

This Vietnamese restaurant is a bit overpriced, but nevertheless an excellent location for a full night on the town, with a dancehall-cum-jazz club downstairs. The rooftop offers beautiful views over Houhai Lake whereas the first floor can be quite raucous at times. The Vietnamese dishes themselves are exquisite, but portions are small. Try the grilled "la lop" leaf beef and the seafood salad.

Situated in a hutong (alleyway) directly opposite the north entrance to Workers Stadium, Purple Haze is a delightful Thai restaurant set in a busy, lively environment. Offers all the spicy Thai favorites. Try the green curry and the tom yum with prawns. The chicken and pumpkin red curry is also recommended. Let your mouth cool down with a peach and ginger cockail – it's a winner! Also offers a free WiFi service.

Friendly Indian smiles greet you in this simple Indian diner. The food is always good and heartily filling. Recommended dishes include vegetable kofta curry, mutton rogan josh and chicken tikka masala. All rich and creamy. There is a second branch near the Lido area.

This is an open-kitchen restaurant specializing in Beijing cuisine, located inside one of the city's major hotels. All the local street food is served here, except that it's guaranteed fresh and elegantly presented. For authentic Beijing regional cuisine, this is the top stop in the city, and it's a popular hot spot to boot. Try some of the small dishes as appetizers - order "dou zhi" (fermented bean puree), "ma doufu" (mashed soybean), and "zhajiang mian" (wheat noodles with black bean mince). Peking duck and Beggar's chicken are the pick of the entrees, and the baijiu liquor is a must try for any real foodie.

Overlooking a river, this two-story Japanese restaurant is highly appreciated for its barbecued fish. Try the mackerel and the cod too – a fish-lover's dream. Friendly staff and a relaxed ambiance make this a delightful choice.

Fresh sashimi and long sushi rolls are the favorite fare at this modern Japanese restaurant. Highly recommended is the 119 Roll, with bright red tuna topped with a divine spicy-sweet sauce. Hatsune offers an inexpensive fixed price lunch on weekdays and a lunch buffet at weekends.

An authentic Japanese experience in China, Matsuko offers all your favorites – sushi, sashimi, miso soup, wasabi sauce and delicious grilled fish. It's especially recommended for the buffet lunch (daily 11:30am - 2pm) for just 68 CNY, with unlimited Asahi beer or soft drinks and a free plate of sashimi. Small groups can ask for a private room with tatami mats, low-set tables and bamboo screens. The service is impeccable.

This unpretentious Japanese diner offers great fresh sushi and sashimi, and is inexpensive compared to other Japanese restaurants in Beijing. Tuna and salmon are melt-in-your-mouth good and the soft shell crab and tiger prawns are also recommended. Wash it all down with Japanese beer.